Northampton, Massachusetts
City Government
source: http://www.northamptonma.gov/aboutNorthampton/City_Government/

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Northampton was settled in 1654
The City of Northampton was incorporated in 1884. City
Government consists of an elected Mayor, City Council and City
Clerk elected for two-year terms of office. The Mayor is the chief
executive officer of the City. The City Council consists of nine
members - seven ward councilors and two at-large councilors. The
City is divided into seven wards with a roughly equal number of
voters in each ward. The City Council is the legislative body for the
City and is responsible for adopting the budget as prepared by the
Mayor and for adopting City ordinances.

Definition of “Charter”
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“Charter, when used in connection with the operation of city and
town government shall include a written instrument adopted,
amended or revised pursuant to the provisions of chapter forty-three
B which establishes and defines the structure of city and town
government for a particular community and which may create
local offices, and distribute powers, duties and responsibilities
among local offices and which may establish and define certain
procedures to be followed by the city or town government.
Special laws enacted by the general court applicable only to one city
or town shall be deemed to have the force of a charter and may be
amended, repealed and revised in accordance with the provisions of
chapter forty-three B unless any such special law contains a specific
prohibition against such action.” (MGL, Chapter 4, Section 7)

City of Northampton, MA
THE CHARTER AND RELATED ACTS
CHARTER AND RELATED ACTS can be
found at http://ecode360.com/NO2226
HISTORY: Adopted by the House of Representatives 620-1883 (Acts of 1883, Chapter 250), approved 6-231883. Amendments noted where applicable.

Comprehensive Charter Reform
More comprehensive charter changes
involving the overall structure of city
government are typically addressed
through a formal Charter Commission
whose election itself must first be brought
before the voters. The following are
summaries of the two past comprehensive
Northampton charter reviews.

1995 Charter Study Commission
In January of 1995, Mayor Mary Ford appointed a seven member Charter Study
Committee to review the City's Charter and recommend whether or not the city
should overhaul its charter or keep the current structure. The Committee met for
several months, held a public hearing, and unanimously recommended that the
election of a formal Charter Commission be placed on the November 7, 1995
ballot. A subsequent petition drive failed to collect the required number of
signatures (15% of registered voters) to get the question on the ballot.
Copies of the Committee recommendation with minutes and follow-up documents
related to the ballot petition are downloadable below:
1995 Charter Study Committee Recommendation
1995 Charter Study Follow-up

1973 Charter Commission
In November 1971, a nine-member Charter Commission was elected by the
voters of Northampton and spent the next 18 months reviewing the charter with
the assistance of a paid consultant. The Charter Commission drafted a proposed
"City Charter of the City of Northampton" and the question of whether or not to
adopt the new charter was placed on the November 6, 1973 municipal election
ballot. The voters of Northampton narrowly rejected adoption of a new charter by
a 152-vote margin (Yes: 3,452 - No: 3604). A copy of the 1973 proposed charter
with ballot question and summary are downloadable below:
1973 Proposed Charter with Ballot Question

NORTHAMPTON CHARTER REVIEW HISTORY
â&#x20AC;˘ The City of Northampton has made several incremental changes to
its Charter over the last decade through a series of special acts of
the state legislature. These changes, which were first approved by a
2/3rds majority of City Council before being sent to the state
legislature for its approval, include restructuring the Department
of Public Works, making the City Treasurer position appointed
rather than elected, moving the city out of the Civil Service
System, and creating new positions and bodies like the
Executive Secretary to the City Council and the Community
Preservation Committee.

Related Laws (§ C-45 — § C-56)
Editor's Note: Included in Art. II are special acts of the General Court which are current amendments to the
Charter or special acts which may be of current interest to the user. It is by no means a comprehensive
reproduction of all special acts related to the City and is presented merely for the convenience of the user. For a
list of special acts related to Northampton, see Ch. A355 of the Code and for a list of general and special laws
accepted by Northampton, see Ch. A360.
An Act Relating to the Election of Certain Officers in the City of Northampton.
an Act Relative to the Power of the City Council of the City of Northampton, to Make and Establish Ordinances and By-Law

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An Act Establishing Smith's Agricultural School.
An Act Relative to the Appointment of the City Solicitor of the City of Northampton.
An Act Providing for Biennial Municipal Elections in the City of Northampton.
An Act Changing the Time for the Holding of the Biennial Municipal Elections in the City of Northampton.
An Act Establishing a Board of Public Works and a Department of Public Works in the City of
An Act Providing for the Nominating of Elective Municipal Officers in the City of Northampton.
An Act Authorizing the Establishment of Residents Only Parking Areas in the City of Northampton.
An Act Establishing a Board of Public Works and a Department of Public Works in the City of Northampton.
An Act Relative to Civil Service Positions in the City of Northampton.
An Act Exempting Certain Positions in the Fire Department in the City of Northampton From the Civil Service Law.

Periodic Review of the Charter by a Charter Review Committee
Northampton’s Charter Review Committee 2010 http://www.northamptonma.gov/charter/
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"At least once in every 10 years, in every year ending in a zero, the City Council shall conduct a
comprehensive review of the City Charter via a special Charter Review Committee comprised of
three Councilors and four residents to be appointed by the City Council President. Within one
year following the appointment of its members, said Committee shall file a written report to the
City Council outlining its review and recommending any changes to the City Charter that it deems
necessary or desirable for the effective function of government in the City of Northampton."
Chapter 22b(4), Code of Ordinances
MEMBERS
Councilor Jesse M. Adams, Colleen Currie, Councilor Marianne L. LaBarge, Councilor David A.
Murphy, Alan Seewald, Margaret Striebel, and Marc Warner*
(Appointed March 18, 2010,*Appointed September 16, 2010 to fill vacancy)
Source: http://www.mass.gov/?
pageID=dorterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Local+Officials&L2=DLS+Newsroom&L3=City+
%26+Town&sid=Ador&b=terminalcontent&f=dls_city_town_2010_charter_change&csid=A
dor
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Once a community has a charter, there is often a provision for the periodic appointment of a
charter review committee. The committee undertakes an examination to determine the charter's
ongoing utility and accuracy. Such committees do NOT have the powers, duties, and
responsibilities of an elected charter commission. Such committees are formed to review the
charter and to make recommendations to its appointing body (e.g., board of selectmen, city
council) regarding the need for additions, deletions, clarifications, or other amendments that
would improve the charter.

The Two Main Comprehensive
Charter Change Routes
The Home Rule Amendment to the state’s
constitution provides several routes for
preparing or revising a charter. The most
familiar are:
• Electing a home rule charter commission
• Petitioning the state legislature for special
legislation (“the home rule petition”).

Option Two: “Home Rule Petition”
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A mayor and city council may appoint a study committee, and
Set a timeline for such committee to report back to the appointing body.
There is no requirement for printing and distribution of any proposal.
There are no public hearing requirements, per se, although some study
committees do provide a public forum for discussion of its recommendations, as
well as town meetings, city council meetings, and the use of the city/town
website to publicize their recommendations.
After completing its work, the committee submits its recommendations to the
local legislative body, which must decide whether to approve a “home rule
petition.” In cities, such approval must also have the concurrence of the mayor.
If the petition is passed by the legislative body (and receives the mayor’s
approval, where necessary), it is then treated as a piece of proposed legislation
– i.e., it is filed with the House or Senate clerk, assigned to a legislative
committee, passed by the House and Senate, signed by the Governor, and
returned to the city or town.
In most instances where a significant change is proposed, the legislation will be
subject to ratification by the municipality’s voters prior to taking effect

Public Forum
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street,
Wallace J. Puchalski Municipal Building, Northampton, MA
Requesting Public Comment for Proposed Changes to the City Charter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including, but not
limited to:
1. Should the City Council/School Committee structure change? Should there be more or
less Ward Councilors, At-Large Councilors, School Committee members or At-Large
School Committee members? Should City Council/School Committee be elected for 2-year
or 4-year terms? Should City Council/School Committee have term limits (i.e., no more
than two 4-year terms)?
2. Should City Council/School Committee compensation and /or benefits increase or
decrease?
3. Should the Mayor be elected for a 2-year or 4-year term? Should the Mayor have term
limits (i.e., no more than two 4-year terms)?
4. Should the Mayor preside over City Council/School Committee meetings?
5. Should the City Clerk be elected or appointed?
No votes will be taken.
NEW BUSINESS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Reserved for topics that the Chair did not reasonably anticipate would be
discussed.
Please visit http://www.northamptonma.gov/citycouncil/Special_Act_Charter_Drafting_Committee/ for more
information.
If you are unable to attend this Public Forum:
To submit questions and/or comments regarding the Charter, please email mmidura@northamptonma.gov or deliver or
mail written comments to Mary L. Midura, Executive Secretary, City Council office, 210 Main Street, Room 16,
Northampton, MA 01060.

Requesting Public Comment for Proposed Changes to the City Charter – including, but not
limited to:
1. Powers of the Executive Branch
– Communications; Special Meetings
– Approval of Mayor, Veto
– Temporary Absence of the Mayor
– Delegation of Authority by Mayor
– Vacancy in Office of Mayor
1. Administrative Organization and Financial Procedures
– Methods of establishing and modifying the administrative organization including boards and
commissions.
– Budgeting, financial forecasting, capital planning and other financial procedures.
1. Elections and Citizen Relief Mechanisms
– Nomination and election procedures.
– Procedures for free petition, initiative petition, referendum and recall provisions.
1. NEW BUSINESS – Reserved for topics that the Chair did not reasonably anticipate would be discussed.
Adjourn

Proposed Timeline
• Drafting Committee Completes report by mid
January 2012
• City Council and Mayor advance proposed
legislation to Beacon Hill for their review and
approval by mid-March 2012
• Governor reviews and approves
• Secretary of State approves for November 2012
ballot
• Voters decide to approve or reject on November
6, 2012

Q:1 Current Structure of
City Council & School Committee
Current:
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9 members each: 1 representative for each of 7 wards, plus 2 citywide "at-large" representatives
Each ward contains 2 precincts of approximately 2000 residents.
(Precincts cannot be bigger than 4000 residents under state law.)

Questions:
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Should we reduce the number of representatives on each
body?
Possible benefits: Fewer uncontested races, save money on
compensation, allow for increased compensation.
Should we increase the number of representatives on each
body?
Possible benefits: Make councilors more accessible, increase
citizen participation, reduce workload.
Should we keep the structure as is?

Questions:
• Should the Mayor's salary be increased?
• Should the Councilor and School Committee member
stipends be increased?
• Should part-time Councilors and School Committee members
receive employee benefits (health, life, etc)?

Q:4 TO PRESIDE OR NOT TO PRESIDE?
Current model = strong executive power, weak legislature power
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Mayor presides over School Committee meetings & votes
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Mayor presides over City Council meetings & does not vote
School Committee & City Council alternative:
a. Mayor does not preside, does not vote
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Advantages: ↑ legislative power, ↓ executive power, ↑ separation of
powers
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Disadvantage: In the past, Northampton voters have favored strong
mayor
Additional School Committee alternatives:
b. Mayor does not preside, does vote
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Advantage: ↑ legislative power
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Disadvantage: Executive still votes in legislative committee
c. Mayor presides, does not vote
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Advantage: Mayor keeps order of meetings, ↓ executive power
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Disadvantage: Mayor leading legislative committee

Requesting Public Comment for Proposed Changes to the City Charter – including, but not
limited to:
1. Powers of the Executive Branch
– Communications; Special Meetings
– Approval of Mayor, Veto
– Temporary Absence of the Mayor
– Delegation of Authority by Mayor
– Vacancy in Office of Mayor
1. Administrative Organization and Financial Procedures
– Methods of establishing and modifying the administrative organization including boards and
commissions.
– Budgeting, financial forecasting, capital planning and other financial procedures.
1. Elections and Citizen Relief Mechanisms
– Nomination and election procedures.
– Procedures for free petition, initiative petition, referendum and recall provisions.
1. NEW BUSINESS – Reserved for topics that the Chair did not reasonably anticipate would be discussed.
Adjourn